Maya Vinic - Unión de Productores Maya Vinic

Unión de Productores “Maya Vinic” is part of a greater association in Chiapas, Mexico named “Las Abejas,” Spanish for “The Bees.” On July 30th 1999, representatives of Las Abejas met to assess the future of their communities. The cooperative Maya Vinic emerges as part this analytical process in which the problems of small coffee producers were discussed, primarily low market prices, low paying intermediaries, or “coyotes,” and violence due to unstable government and paramilitary relationships. Producers, primarily of indigenous ethnicity, united to form the “Maya Vinic” cooperative and combat these pressing issues. While coffee is their main export, Maya Vinic members also produce and commercialize honey. Profits from local and international sales, including Fair Trade sales, keep the cooperative funding important social and economic development programs benefitting their community.